What my rent pays for

We collect rent on behalf of your
landlord Waltham Forest Council.

Your rent is used to maintain your home, your
block and your estate. It is used to pay for all of the services we
provide such as: your repairs, the cleaning and maintenance of your
surrounding areas e.g. stairwells, corridors and open green
spaces.

We also provide our residents with a 360 degrees rental service. We
invite all new Ascham Homes tenants to discuss and sign their
tenancy agreement. Our staff take rent payments, provide payment
plans and offer solutions to those in arrears. We involve residents
in shaping and improving the service through customer satisfaction
surveys, mystery shopping and focus groups.

We will send you your rent statement every quarter however if you
would like to keep a closer eye on your finances you can check your balance online or
phone Income Services on 020 8496 4197 to discuss any concerns you
have with your rent or service charge account.

The amount of rent payable by you under this
agreement may be changed by the council. In the event of
this happening they are required to give you four weeks written
notice. However, the council does not have to advise you in advance
of any increase in your weekly rent which occurs because of an
increase in service charges, which can include caretaking,
grounds maintenance, communal lighting etc.

If you pay by Direct Debit, a letter detailing
your revised instalments will be sent to you shortly. Please
remember that if you pay by standing order, you will need to
recalculate your payments and advise your bank of the increase in
the instalment amount.

If you at present are in receipt of
housing benefit, you must notify Income Services of all changes in
the amount of Housing Benefit you receive. Upon notification, your
payments will be adjusted to take account of the charge and details
will then be sent to you.

If you are not receiving housing
benefit and wish to claim, please contact the Benefits Section by
telephoning 020 8496 4197 or claim housing benefit
online.

If you are in doubt, please contact
our Income Services who will support you through this process by
telephoning 020 8496 4197.

Your rent is due one week in advance, on each
Monday. However there is an option to pay every two weeks or
monthly if this suits you better.

What services make up my rent

Net rent and some or maybe all of the
following depending upon the property you live in and your personal
situation:

Water charges

Service charges

Heating

Home insurance.

Net rent

The net rent is the amount you pay for using
your home. The council combines all the rent it receives and uses
the money to maintain and manage its housing.

We work out the amount of net rent you pay
using the government’s national formula:

The average council rent for all local
authorities in England

The average earnings in your area compared
with the national average earnings

The capital value of your property compared
with the national average of a council property (valuations of
property are on the open-market value at January 1999 prices)

The number of bedrooms in your property.

The formula calculates a “Target Rent” for
each property. This target rent increases each year in line with
inflation. At present the rent Waltham Forest charges is generally
lower than other councils, however, we are slowly moving towards
the target rent each year. Please be aware that rent is increased
annually in April. You will receive four weeks’ notice, prior
to the increase.

Water charges

We collect water charges for water
companies, who set the amount charged each year.

Service charge

This charge is based on the cost of delivering
the services used by you on your estate i.e. electricity, lifts and
security entrances and the maintenance of communal areas such as
caretaking and grounds maintenance (gardening and grass
cutting).

Heating

If your home has a communal heating system,
you will pay for heating with your rent.

Contents Insurance

The cost for your insurance can be included
with your rent collection. You must remember to keep up to date
with your payments otherwise you will not be covered.